Towel-cabinet.



L. S. SHANK.

TOWEL CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.18, 1911.

1,018,01 1 Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY S. SHANK, 0F FINDLAY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 WILLIAM A. MORRIS,

- 0F FINDLAY, OHIO.

TOWEL-CABINET.

Application filed January 18, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY S. SHANIga citizen of the United States, residing at Findlay, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Towel-Cabinet, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a cabinet for dispensing towels, and to provide, in such a cabinet, novel means for advancing one towel after another withln reach of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing structure in which the containing cases will be automatically disposed of, after their contents have been removed, and to provide means for receiving the contents of the containing cases, after such contents have served their purpose.

IVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the invention in perspective; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a fragment-a1 rear elevation, parts of the case being broken away, in order that the operating mechanism may more clearly apear. p In carrying out the invention, there is provided a casing 1, including an upright shaft 28, provided with a forward extension 22. In the top 30 of the extension 22 there is an opening 18, the front wall 31. of the shaft being downwardly extended below the level of the top 30 of the extension. The extension 22 may be equipped with a hinged door 21, provided with suitable operating and locking mechanism, indicated conventionally at 23. The shaft 28 may be provided with a door 4, carrying a mirror 5, the door 4 being supplied with suitable operating and locking mechanism, indicated conventionally at 6. Disposed in upright position within the shaft 28, is a partition 24, and from this partition, a platform 32 extends rearwardly into abutment with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Serial No. 603,391.

rear wall of the case, to define a compartment A at the back of the case. The par tition 24 likewise serves to form a compartment B at the front of the case.

The towels which are to be dispensed, are placed in trays for dispensing cases 3, these trays 3 being superposed in the compartment B. The soiled towels are adapted to be stored in the compartment A, there being an opening 25 in the side wall of the case 1, through which soiled towels may be placed within said compartment. In the side wall of the case there is an elongated slot 27, opening into the compartment B, whereby the number of trays in the said compartment may be ascertained at a glance. Disposed within the lower portion of the case 1, and protruding forwardly into the extension 22, are spaced guides 8, supported by a partition 26, which, extending downwardly to the bottom of the case, serves to divide the lower portion of the case into a forward compartment D and a rear compartment C. Supported upon the forward ends of the guides 8, and positioned below the opening 18, is a-table 19.

The invention further includes an ejector frame which reciprocates upon the guides 8, to advance one tray after another, upon the table 19. This ejector frame comprises a top member 7, superposed upon the guides 8, cleats 11 being secured to the lower face of the top member 7 the cleats being positioned between the guides, to prevent the ejector frame fro-m moving transversely of the guides. The ej ector frame is held in place upon the guides 8, against upward move ment, by means of spaced bars 12, which, secured to the lower edges of the cleats 11, engage slidably, the lower edges of the guides 8.

The mechanism whereby the ejector frame is reciprocated upon the guides 8, comprises a rock shaft 15, journaled, as shown at 16, in the side walls of the case 1. Located within the compartment C, and secured to the rock shaft 15, are spaced upright arms 13, the free upper ends of these arms registering between the bars 12 of the ejector frame. Secured to one extremity of the rock shaft 15, and disposed upon the outside of the case 1, is an actuating member whereby the rock shaft may be operated, this actuating member preferably consisting of a lever 17 i The operation of the device is as follows :The towels are placed within the trays 3, the trays being mounted in place in the compartment B, in superposed rela tion, the lowermost tray of the series resting upon the guides 8. lVhen the operating lever 17 is reciprocated, the shaft 15 will be rocked, the arms 13 advancing the ejector.

frame, the top member 7 of which will engage the lowermost tray of the series, and advance the same upon the table 19, the front wall 31 of the case serving as an abutment, to prevent more than one tray at a time being advanced upon the table 19 by the ejector frame. \Vhen the tray, containing a clean towel, is positioned upon the table 19, the towel may readily be removed from the tray, through the opening 18. After the towel has been used, it may be in serted into the compartment A, through the opening 25. When the operating lever 17 is again manipulated, to advance another tray with its contained towel upon the table 19, the empty tray theretofore resting upon the table 19, will be pushed off the table, to fall into the compartment D, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The towel cabinet above described serves as a means for housing a considerable number of towels, the construction of the device being such that the towels will be maintained in clean and sanitary condition until the occasion for the use of one of them has arrived. A receptacle for the soiled towels is provided, and it is to be noted that the empty trays require no attention or removal, these trays being disposed automatically,

when emptied, in the out-of-the-way position shown in Fig. 2.

It will of course be understood that the door 4: gives access to the compartment B,

' for the insertion of trays 3, the door 21 givtable supported upon the guide and located directly below an opening in the top of the extension; a member movable upon the guide and adapted in a single operation to advance a boX-inclosed article upon the table, from the shaft, and to push from the table, to the bottom of the cabinet, an empty box, the contents of which has been removed through the opening; there being a partition in the extension, connecting the bottom of the cabinet with the guide, to serve as a support for the guide, and to maintain the empty boxes adjacent the closure; there being an opening in the shaft, through which the dispensed articles may be inserted after use; and a partition in the shaft, separating used from the boX-inclosed articles. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEROY S. SI-IANK. lVitnesses C. Gr. BALLMER, WY E. COOPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

